U.S. patent number 4,555,816 [Application Number 06/572,893] was granted by the patent office on 1985-12-03 for ventilated helmet.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bell Helmets Inc.. Invention is credited to Lester V. Broersma.
United States Patent |
4,555,816 |
Broersma |
December 3, 1985 |
Ventilated helmet
Abstract
A cyclist's helmet incorporates a dome shaped top wall
structure, opposite side wall structures, a front opening for
forward viewing, a lower front wall structure which extends
forwardly and a rear wall structure. It also includes: (a) a
frontward facing air inlet means defined by said wall structure,
and an air outlet means defined by said wall structure generally
rearwardly of said lower front wall structure, and (b) passage
means in said wall structure including said side wall structure to
receive air inflow from said inlet means for circulation to the
upper interior of the helmet and subsequent flow via said wall
structure and to said outlet means, (c) said inlet means, passage
means, and outlet means located to enhance cooling air flow through
the helmet.
Inventors: |
Broersma; Lester V.
(Bellflower, CA) |
Assignee: |
Bell Helmets Inc. (Norwalk,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
24289804 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/572,893 |
Filed: |
January 23, 1984 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/425; 2/171.3;
2/424; 2/908; 2/909 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B
3/12 (20130101); A42B 3/281 (20130101); Y10S
2/908 (20130101); Y10S 2/909 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A42B
3/04 (20060101); A42B 3/28 (20060101); A42B
3/12 (20060101); A42B 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/425,424,414,410,411,412,171.4,171.7,171.3,10,6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0072767 |
|
Feb 1983 |
|
EP |
|
3233467 |
|
Mar 1984 |
|
DE |
|
Other References
Nava, "The New Nava 2AC with Air Control", 1984..
|
Primary Examiner: Nerbun; Peter
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Haefliger; William W.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a motorcyclist or bicyclist helmet having dome shaped top
wall structure, side wall structures, a front opening for forward
viewing, a lower front wall structure which juts forwardly, and
rear wall structure, the combination comprising:
(a) a frontward facing air inlet means defined by said wall
structure, and including two laterally spaced apart air inlets
spaced rearwardly of the forwardmost center portion of said lower
front wall structure, and
(b) passage means in said wall structure including said lower front
wall structure and said side wall structure to receive air inflow
from said two air inlets for circulation rearwardly adjacent
opposite sides of said front wall structure and upwardly to the
upper interior of the helmet and subsequent downward flow adjacent
said wall structure and to the exterior,
(c) said inlet means, and passage means, located to enhance cooling
air flow through the helmet.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said top, side and rear wall
structure is defined by an outer shell and an inner liner, said
passage means located in said liner and also between said liner and
shell.
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said inlet means includes a
third inlet located more forwardly than said two inlets and in the
forwardmost extent of said lower front wall structure, said two
inlets located at left and right sides, respectively of said lower
front wall structure, said third inlet being larger than said two
inlets.
4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said passage means includes
primary openings through said liner in said side wall structures to
pass air flow from first portions of said passage means between
said liner and shell to second portions of said passage means in
said liner and exposed to the helmet interior.
5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said passage means include
secondary openings through said liner in at least one of said top
and rear wall structures to pass air flow from said second portions
of said passage means to third portions of said passage means
between said liner and shell.
6. The combination of claim 1 including air flow outlet means
defined by openings through said side wall structure, generally
rearwardly of said front wall structure.
7. The combination of claim 5 including outlet means including air
outlets through the shell at the sides of the helmet and
communicating with said third portions of the passage means.
8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said secondary openings are
located in both said top and rear wall structures.
9. In a motorcyclist or bicyclist helmet having dome shaped top
wall structure, side wall structures, a front opening for forward
viewing, a lower front wall structure which juts forwardly, and
rear wall structure, the combination comprising:
(a) frontward facing air inlet means defined by said wall
structure, and an air outlet means defined by said wall structure
generally rearwardly of said lower front wall structure, and
(b) passage means in said wall structure including said side wall
structure to receive air inflow from said inlet means for
circulation to the upper interior of the helmet and subsequent flow
via said wall structure and to said outlet means,
(c) said inlet means, passage means, and outlet means located to
enhance cooling air flow through the helmet,
(d) said top, side and rear wall structure defined by an outer
shell and an inner liner, said passage means located in said liner
and also between said liner and shell, said passage means including
primary openings through said liner in said side wall structures to
pass air flow from first portions of said passage means between
said liner and shell to second portions of said passage means sunk
in said liner and exposed to the helmet interior, said passage
means also including secondary openings through said liner in at
least one of said top and rear wall structures to pass air flow
from said second portions of said passage means to third portions
of said passage means between said liner and shell,
(e) said passage means also including auxiliary openings through
the liner in said side wall structures and below the levels of said
primary openings to pass air flow from said first portions of said
passage means to auxiliary portions of said passage means at the
inner side of the liner defined by said rear wall structure.
10. The combination of claim 9 including a removable pad carried in
the helmet and covering said auxiliary portion of said passage
means.
11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said auxiliary portion of
said passage means communicate with at least one of said secondary
openings.
12. The combination of claim 1 including a barrier extending across
certain of said passage means to separate the interior of the
helmet from the interior or interiors of said passage means.
13. The combination of claim 5 including a top pad rearwardly
attached to the inner side of said liner defined by said top wall
structure.
14. The combination of claim 1 including a closure removably
attached to the helmet to at least partially cover said inlet
means.
15. The combination of claim 1 including
removable pad means carried by the helmet to extend across at least
a portion of said passage means.
16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said pad means is
porous.
17. The combination of claim 15 wherein said wall structure
includes a liner and shell, there being a clip insertible between
the liner and shell to retain the pad in position adjacent the
liner.
18. In a motorcyclist or bicyclist helmet having dome shaped top
wall structure, side wall structures, a front opening for forward
viewing, a lower front wall structure which juts forwardly, and
rear wall structure, said top, side and rear wall structures
defined by an outer shell and an inner liner, the combination
comprising:
(a) a frontward facing air inlet means defined by said lower front
wall structure, and including two laterally spaced apart air inlets
spaced rearwardly of the forwardmost center portion of said lower
front wall structure,
(b) passage means in said wall structure including said lower front
wall structure and said side wall structure to receive air inflow
from said two air inlets for circulation rearwardly adjacent
opposite sides of said front wall structure and upwardly to the
upper interior of the helmet, the air subsequently flowing
downwardly adjacent the liner,
(c) said inlet means and passage means located to enhance cooling
air flow through the helmet,
(d) said passage means located in said liner and also between said
liner and shell, said passage means including openings through said
liner proximate the upper interior of the helmet to pass air flow
from one side of the liner at the upper interior of the helmet to
the opposite side of the liner, for subsequent flow downwardly
adjacent the liner and to the helmet exterior.
19. The combination of claim 18 including a third air inlet located
between and being larger than said two air inlets, and a screen
covering said third air inlet at the side thereof closest to the
helmet interior.
20. The combination of claim 19 including a porous pad attached to
the inner side of said liner.
21. In a motorcyclist or bicyclist helmet having dome shaped top
wall structure, side wall structures, a front opening for forward
viewing, and rear wall structure, the combination comprising:
(a) two forward facing air inlets defined by said wall structure
and located proximate said front opening and below the level of
said top wall structure, the air exiting the helmet interior
rearwardly of said air inlets,
(b) passage means in said wall structure to receive air inflow for
circulation at the upper interior of the helmet and subsequent
outflow,
(c) said inlets and passage means located to enhance cooling air
flow through the helmet,
(d) the helmet having lower front wall structure which juts
forwardly below the level of said front opening and forwardly of
the forwardmost extent of the top wall structure, said lower front
wall structure having a forwardmost presented portion containing
said two air inlets located at opposite sides and rearwardly of a
third air inlet which is also located in said forwardmost presented
portion, said third inlet being larger than each of said two inlets
and opening centrally rearwardly toward space within said helmet
below and forwardly of said front opening, said third inlet having
a substantially larger vertical dimension than the vertical
dimensions of said two inlets, all three of said inlets being
vertically elongated,
(e) said passage means defined by said lower front wall structure
and said side wall structure to receive air inflow from said two
air inlets for circulation rearwardly adjacent opposite sides of
said lower front wall structure and upwardly to the upper interior
of the helmet, the air subsequently flowing downwardly adjacent the
liner and to the helmet exterior.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to helmets, and more particularly
concerns a safety helmet of the type worn by bicyclists, and having
a construction enhancing comfort and safety of the wearer.
In the past, it was known to provide air vents in helmets, as for
example are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,854 to Feldman and
U.S. Pat. 3,925,821 to Lewicki. Such helmets lack the unusually
advantageous features of construction, beneficial results and
combinations thereof as are now provided by the present helmet,
these including enhanced safety and air cooling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved helmet
incorporating all of the above referenced advantages and results.
Basically, the helmet incorporates a dome shaped top wall
structure, opposite side wall structures, a front opening for
forward viewing, a lower front wall structure which extends
forwardly and a rear wall structure. It also includes:
(a) a frontward facing air inlet means defined by said wall
structure, and an air outlet means defined by said wall structure
generally rearwardly of said lower front wall structure, and
(b) passage means in said wall structure including said side wall
structure to receive air inflow from said inlet means for
circulation to the upper interior of the helmet and subsequent flow
via said wall structure and to said outlet means,
(c) said inlet means, passage means, and outlet means located to
enhance cooling air flow through the helmet.
As will appear, the top, side and rear wall structures are
typically defined by an outer shell and an inner liner, the
passages located in the liner and also between the liner and the
outer shell or wall.
Further, the passage means may include passages extending
rearwardly in opposite sides of the helmet lower front portion,
such passages extending rearwardly from the inlet and upwardly
toward the helmet interior to circulate scavenge air to the latter
and provide cooling; and additional of the passages may extend
generally downwardly to an outlet or outlets defined by openings
through the shell defined by side wall structure. Such inlet means,
passages and outlets provide for enhanced ventillation, i.e.
induction of cooling air and, vacuum assisted exiting of cooling
air. Finally, removable pad means may be provided in the helmet,
and a removable closure for the inlet means may be enabled.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as
the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully
understood from the following specification and drawings, in
which:
DRAWING DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a helmet incorporating the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the helmet, with the shell
broken away in certain areas;
FIG. 3 is an elevation taken in section through the helmet, on
lines 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view section taken on lines 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a section on lines 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a section on lines 6--6 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged section showing a modification;
FIG. 8 is a perspective showing of a top pad as appears in FIG. 3;
and
FIG. 9 is a perspective showing of an air intake with associated
closure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In. FIGS. 1-4, the helmet 10 shown is of the type worn by
motorcyclists or bicyclists. It has a dome shaped top wall
structure 11, opposite side wall structures 12 and 13, a front
opening 14 for forward viewing, a lower front portion 15 having
forwardly U-shaped wall structure which juts or projects forwardly
beneath opening 14, and rear wall structure 16. Such wall
structures may be defined by an outer shell, and also by an inner
liner, with corresponding walls 11a, 11b; 12a, 12b; 13a, 13b; 15a,
15b; and 16a, 16b. The thin outer shell may consist of laminated,
hard plastic material, and the liner may consist of softer molded
plastic material such as foamed plastic (polyurethane).
In accordance with the invention, passages or channels are formed
in the wall structure, with inlets and outlets, all configured to
enhance cooling air flow through the helmet as by ram injection of
air into the inlets, and vacuum or suction withdrawal of air from
the outlets.
More specifically, and referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, frontwardly
facing air inlet means are defined as in the lower front portion of
the helmet (as for example by vertically elongated recesses 20 in
the liner 15a) rearwardly and laterally of a front screen 21. The
latter admits air directly to the interior 22 of the U-shaped
forward portion 15 of the helmet. The air entering inlets 20 then
enters passage means in the wall structure including the side wall
structure for circulation to the upper interior of the helmet and
subsequent flow via the wall structure to outlet means, to be
described. More specifically, air passes from inlets 20 into first
portions of passage means, as for example are representated by
ducts 24 cut or formed in outer surfaces of the liner, and
extending rearwardly, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. Such dusts 24 face
the shell and extend from the lower front portion 15 into the main
extent of the helmet as at 24a. From the latter a confined duct
branch 24aa extends upwardly, at each side of the helmet, and
toward a primary opening 25 through the liner in the side wall
structure to pass the entering air flow into second portions of the
passage means in the liner and exposed to the helmet interior. The
second portions of the passage means are for example represented by
ducts 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d shown in FIG. 3 as branching from the
primary opening in lining wall 13b. The same ducting is found in
the lining wall 12b at the opposite side of the helmet.
Air flowing in duct branches 26a-26d sweeps warmer air from the
upper interior of the helmet upwardly toward and through secondary
openings through the liner. See for example openings 27 and 28 in
FIG. 3, in the top and rear wall structure of the helmet. The air
thus swept through openings 27 and 28 passes to third portions of
the passage means between the liner and shell, and as represented
by ducts 29a, 29b and 29c seen in FIG. 2 as merging to guide the
air flow downwardly toward like outlets 30 through the shell at
opposite sides of the helmet. External air flowing relatively pass
outlets 30, as represented by arrow 31 in FIG. 4, tends to draw the
air flow outwardly from outlets 30, as by aspiration or partial
vacuum effect. Ducts 29a-29c are preferably cut or otherwise molded
in the liner material to face the shell, as appears in FIG. 4,
whereby the main outer surface extent of the liner remains close to
the shell inner surface, to absorb impacts. See also like L-shaped
seals 32 inserted between the liner and shell to block
communication between ducts 29c and 29a on the one hand, and ducts
24a, 24aa and ports 25 on the other hand.
The air passage means in helmet wall structure may also, and with
unusual advantage, include auxiliary openings (as at 36 for
example) through the liner in the side wall structures, and below
the levels of the primary openings 25. Auxiliary openings 36 pass
air flow from ducts 24 to auxiliary portions of the passage means
(as exemplified by ducts 37) at the inner side of the liner defined
by the rear wall structure. See FIGS. 3 and 4 in this regard. Like
openings 36 and ducts 37 are found in opposite sides of the liner,
i.e. at opposite sides of a vertical plane 38 bisecting the helmet.
The ducts 37 extend rearwardly and upwardly to pass air to the
openings 28, as shown in FIG. 3. This assists air flow through the
passage means in the helmet, and to the outlets. Note also side
branch 38 from which some air may circulate.
A removable pad may be inserted into the helmet, as shown at 40 in
FIGS. 3 and 4, to enhance the wearer's head comfort, and also to
cover the ducts 37 cut or formed in the inner side of the liner, to
be exposed inwardly toward the pad. Perspiration absorbed with the
pad tends to be drawn as water vapor into the ducts 37, and swept
out of the helmet, i.e. the pad 40 may be porous to "breath", for
this purpose. The pad may include a porous fabric inner liner 41,
as shown. Liner 41 may consist of porous polypropylene, and the pad
itself may consist of reticulated polyethylene foam.
A top pad 42 may be removably attached to the inner side of the
upper dome extent of the liner. See FIGS. 3 and 8 showing that pad
as being generally annular, and as having VELCRO layers 43 thereon
to removably attached to the liner. Adhesive layers may be
substituted for VELCRO layers. Pad 42 extends between openings 27
and 28.
Finally, closures 44 are removably attached or attachable to the
helmet front portion 15 to at least partially cover or plug the
inlets 20, as during cold weather. Note legs 46 provided on the
closure to wedge interfit with the edges of the opening 20.
A helmet strap appears at 49 in FIG. 3, and an ear cavity area in
the liner appears at 50. FIG. 7 shows a plastic strip 51 wedged
between shell 16a and liner 16b to act as a clip retaining the pad
40 in position. Strip 51 is carried by the pad, as shown, and is
removable from position between the liner and shell, to release the
pad.
* * * * *